Azasite Rocks (Take 2)

[Need2Know]

Hi Skygoddess, also outside of Atlanta here, to the NW, would you recommend your doctor? I have a few eye problems, most recently including dry eye, and since my current doctor has said there's nothing else she can do for me, she's handing me off to other doctors in her office, so I'm fearful it will be more of the same treatment. Anyway, would you send me a PM if you're willing to recommend your doctor? Thanks in advance.

Glad to hear you found someone that helped. It stinks when you get the feeling the eye doc is just spending the obligatory ten minutes with you, throwing the drop-du jour at it, and then collecting the payments w/out really trying to fix the problem.

[vman]

I was going to wait a week, but I've been fairly struck by how positive my initial response to Azasite has been. My blepharitis/MGD doesn't frequently lead to very red eyes, but it did last week, and this weekend (started Azasite on Saturday morning) I'm feeling not unimaginably far from normal.

I'm planning to take it for a month. I'm eager to see how much it continues to improve, and of course, to know how long the effect lasts beyond the treatment time.

I've learned that the drug has a pretty long half-life in the ocular tissue (due apparently to the Durasoft vehicle), so it's believed to stay around in significant concentrations for a month following discontinuation.

It's fascinating to me that it's had much effect, because by the standard blepharitis diagnosis diagrams, my case was squarely one of MGD as opposed to bacterially based...I have frequent posterior lid inflammation (and serious irritation/discomfort), but rarely have signs of eyelash infestation. So, antibiotic ointments etc. were not generally considered an option (though I've taken Doxy, ostensibly more for its anti-inflammatory properties...which, incidentally, Azasite also has...for reasons not very clearly described anywhere, as best as I can tell)

But I've learned that this treatment seems to have positive effects even in cases of (apparent) MGD...and I'm pleased that this is seeming to be true in my case.

Will keep posting...

[skygoddess]

Vman,
Good to hear it is helping. Where did you find your information about Azasite? All I have seen online was some very basic info about its use for pinkeye.

[Plat]

Here is an article on Azasite,

http://otasia.advanstar.com/otasia/a...eID=1&sk=&date

I want to try this but I live in Canada and it is not available here.

Has anyone that tried Azasite tried Vigamox? I read another article that says Vigamox is better?

http://www.revoptom.com/index.asp?Ar...632/lesson.htm

[Plat]

Here is the link again,
http://otasia.advanstar.com/otasia/a...eID=1&sk=&date

[Philipp_from_Germany]

Hi everybody;

It's been a while...

I came across this video featuring Dr. Luchs who recommends Azasite for MGD treatment:

http://ophthalmologyweb.cnpg.com/Vid...odi-Luchs.aspx

[dianat]

Good to *see* you, Phillip!

[Philipp_from_Germany]

Hi Diana;

Thanks! I am excited about Azasite because I have read many encouraging statements about it by eye care professionals. It seems to address the underlying evil root of soo many MGD patients. What I hope is that they will release a second version of it for long-term usage. Probably unpreserved or with something that is more suitable for sensitive corneas than that horrible BAK.

[Toril]

...I was wondering...is Azasite only available in the US?

Toril

[Philipp_from_Germany]

Here is a download link to an interesting expert discussion on Azasite's potential application to treat MGD:

http://cme.ufl.edu/selfstudy/ethis/blepharitis.pdf


Note: It is quite technical...and also sponsored by the Azasite distributing pharma company Inspirepharm...but nonetheless these guys are experts and seem to approve of it.

[clairvoyant]

That's funny one of those doctors from that link is my doctor.

Man I would love to get my hands on the preservitive free version of it but I wonder if it is only palliative and temporary or if you can use it long term. Like one drop every 2 days or something. God antibiotics scare me though, hope it's safe.

[sazy123]

Just posting this here as well:

http://www.canadadrugs.com/prescript...on+1%25/11275/

I have just found an online pharmacy where you can buy it without a prescription, anyone used this pharmacy or got azasite from there?

They do 2.5ml, 5ml and 7.5ml

What is the normal mills that lasts 2 about 1/2weeks?

[Plat]

So do they compound it for you without a prescription?

[sazy123]

Its not a compounding pharamcy, its just a normal pharamcy but you dont need a prescription to get it.

I ordered restasis and no many others who do the same this way, its perfectly fine, theres a loophole that allows them to do it.

[EllMitcho]

Hi

I am interested in Azasite (anyone with cronic bleph cannot read this post and NOT be interested I guess!)

I came across this link

http://www.leaddiscovery.co.uk/trials/2866/

Does anyone know how to get the results of this ?

Cheers

EllMitcho

[skygoddess]

I don't know where the official results can be found, but I can give anecdotal testimony that it works great.
Two Dr's have confirmed all signs of my blepharitis are gone, hallelujah!
I still use it daily for my MGD, but those symptoms are under much better control too.

[irish eyes]

That is so encouraging. How long had you suffered with dry eye and blepharitis?

I have had it for 15 years and nothing has really helped. I worry that the longer you have it, the harder it will be to treat. I want to be optimistic but I have been disappointed so often that it's safer not to get hopes raised.

Regarding the results of the study - I was cheeky and dropped them a line and asked. They may not reply but it was worth a try.

[skygoddess]

I know how you feel, on good days ,I am afraid I am going to jinx myself.
Severe blepharitis for a little over 2 years. Dry eyes? quite some time.
I still have ocular rosacea, so I suppose the war is ongoing,
But azasite was the first effective treatment I received.
My Dr just gave me a unlimited refill prescription, so as long as it keeps working I am planning on using it.

[irish eyes]

I might have got this very wrong but the US seems ahead of UK with addressing these conditions. We are still at the stage where we are advised to use a bit of baby shampoo and a warm flannel.........and to think of all those who are worse off than ourselves.

We all are vulnerable to depression, but those of us who suffer with chronic pain are at greater risk. It might also be true that those who are depressed could be at greater risk of developing other medical conditions. In the early years of my blepharitis / dry eye, the ongoing fatigue & anxiety caused by chronic eye pain lead to my jaw muscles tightening up and I developed TMJ - inflammation of the Temporomandibular Joint. This resulted in weeks of physiotherapy - and it all began with my eyes. Who would have thought it?

[bernmee]

Ok...so after Doxy not working, Dr. Michael Gagnon, who is a Dr. on this site, has put me on this for a month.

I will keep you posted.

Bernadette

[Rebecca Petris]

Good luck Bernadette... let us know how it goes!

[odydnas]

Bernadette, when you said that doxy wasn't working, did you mean that you see no improvement in symptoms and your doc sees no improvement upon exam?
I've been on minocycline for 2 months and while my glands supposedly look better, I don't feel any better...

I wonder if have the same issue...

[bernmee]

Hi Odydnas,

I just sent you a PM that gives you a more exact desciption, could have posted it here if I had read this first!

I felt the last 6 weeks I have become better at dealing wiht the pain, thatnks in part to the rice baggy and the fact that I need to start getting on with my life, however I was not convinced that there was any improvement.

My eye was feeling 100% worse pain wise, it has just been a really tough week, though it is evened out today, thank god. When I went in to see him and he seemed a little puzzled with the whole thing, this was before he said anything, I could tell by his body language. It seems that my TBUT is done three seconds and there was more dry spots on my cornea. However I was having a severe blow up in my facial rosacea and a break out on my skin. therefore I am not surprised that my eyes were playing up to...inflammation and all that.

I have read that some people find it stings when putting it in. I found that it gave me about ten minutes of pain relief. In fact so far I use it in the evening as my eyes have been very bad this week, and that 10 min. of no pain is amazing. I'm hoping this is a good sign.

I am going to work really hard for the next 6 weeks at staying on an anti inflammatory diet and see it that works. I am starting tomorrow because today I just had pizza and chocolate cake

I am going to Hawaii straight after my next apt to meet my sister who I haven't seen in three years. I have told her that if I have a good apt I will have cocktails with her, so I need to work hard on my diet. Plus I have a bikini to get into, don't want my youger sister looking hotter then me, that all adds up to a super incentive...starting tomorrow that is.

Bernadette

[Philipp_from_Germany]

Efficacy of topical azithromycin ophthalmic solution 1% in the treatment of posterior blepharitis.Luchs J.
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA

INTRODUCTION: Azithromycin, a broad-spectrum antibiotic with potent anti-inflammatory activities, has the potential to effectively treat blepharitis, an inflammatory disease of the eyelid with abnormal eyelid flora as an etiologic determinant. The present study compared the efficacy of topical azithromycin ophthalmic solution 1% (AzaSite(R); Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Inc, NC, USA) combined with warm compresses (azithromycin group) to warm compresses alone (compress group) in patients with posterior blepharitis. METHODS: Twenty-one patients diagnosed with posterior blepharitis were randomized in an open-label study to receive either azithromycin plus warm compresses (10 patients), or compresses alone (11 patients). All patients were instructed to apply compresses to each eye for 5-10 minutes twice daily for 14 days. Each eye in the azithromycin group also received azithromycin solution (1 drop) twice daily for the first 2 days followed by once daily for the next 12 days. Patients were evaluated at study initiation (visit 1) and at end of treatment (visit 2) for the severity of five clinical signs: eyelid debris, eyelid redness, eyelid swelling, meibomian gland (MG) plugging, and the quality of MG secretion. At visit 2, patients also rated their degree of overall symptomatic relief. RESULTS: Twenty patients completed the study. At visit 2, patients in the azithromycin group demonstrated significant improvements in MG plugging, MG secretions, and eyelid redness as compared with the compress group. In the azithromycin group, MG plugging resolved completely in three patients and MG secretion returned to normal in two patients; no such results were seen in the compress group. Furthermore, a higher percentage of patients in the azithromycin group rated overall symptomatic relief as excellent or good. Visual acuity measurements and biomicroscopic evaluation revealed no ocular safety issues. CONCLUSION: Azithromycin ophthalmic solution in combination with warm compresses provided a significantly greater clinical benefit than warm compresses alone in treating the signs and symptoms of posterior blepharitis

[Toril]

Thank you Philip! Very interesting study!

[Philipp_from_Germany]

Here is a good educational video about dry eye and treatment options. I think the doc explains it quite comprehendible. He also advocates the use of azasite for MGD:

http://www.harvardeye.com/procedures/dryeye.html

[sazy123]

I have just started azasite, as usual with dry eye treatments i am never that hopeful because nothing seems to help my inflamed inner eyelids- which i beleiev is causing the problem- whether its bleptheritis, ocular rosacea- i dont know it seems to be a grey area.

After putting one drop of it in, eyes feel quite good, but it is very hard to tell if its anything to do with azasite because my eyes are very up and down due to this ongoing tonsilitis i have had for the past 6 months. Past few days my throat has been getting better and my inflammed eyelids and dry eye is back in full force (as per usual). so thought its time to give azasite a try.

[sazy123]

Here is a good educational video about dry eye and treatment options. I think the doc explains it quite comprehendible. He also advocates the use of azasite for MGD:

http://www.harvardeye.com/procedures/dryeye.html

Interesting video. Kind of irrelevant for me coz my glands arent blocked so doing that never improves the situation, and my lids are inflamed so its not best to put heat on them. It is strange how this type of mgd gets alot of attention, but ocular rosacea type doesn't.

[Rick]

Here is a good educational video about dry eye and treatment options. I think the doc explains it quite comprehendible. He also advocates the use of azasite for MGD:

http://www.harvardeye.com/procedures/dryeye.html

I have just seen him. He gave me Azasite to try for 5 days, then off for a month, then back on. I'm putting it in only one eye to see if there is an obvious difference between the two. So far, nothing. Some initial burning and that's it. I'll let you know.

I should mention that he said what other docs have said: my eyes look great. Hmmmmmm. My symptoms are horrible, but my eyes look great. Go figure. I suspect that it's because I do so much to control the pain (or prevent it). I wonder if anyone were told the same thing.

[BillyBoy]

Hello everyone. I am 2 years post LASIK,diagnosed with blepharitis or MGD (The docs are not sure), dry eyes for sure. I am only needing Systane 1-3x every couple days though. Is this a lighter dose than most the forum readers here?

I've been doing warm compresses, oils, scrubs and lid massages for one year. I'd say my symptoms are 80% better than a year ago. I actually had no symptoms from early June through August this year and used no wetting drops! Then returned from vacation where I took a break from the oils and maintaining. Well the pain and dryness is back! I called my doctor and she prescribed Azasite yesterday. So far no improvement, but I will update everyone as time passes. She prescribed 2x/day for a week, then 1x/day for 3 weeks. We shall see. Back on the oils also. By the way, over the summer when I was pain free, I was exercising 3-4 days a week. Back to that also! Oh my doc says that it is very important to shake the bottle once before applying. Good luck everyone! Skygoddess, are your eyes still GOOD?